South Africa's Education Minister rejects 30% pass rate as acceptable

Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, has strongly rejected the notion that a pass rate of 30% can be acceptable.

During the release of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results in Johannesburg, Gwarube expressed concern over the misleading perceptions surrounding the pass rate, which she believes undermined learners' true potential and aspirations.

“I urge leaders to refrain from populism because the danger with this is that it discourages our learners, many of whom have different paths ahead.

Not every single learner who attends school intends to obtain a university degree,” Gwarube stated.

She elaborated that while some students aim for tertiary education, others are preparing to enter various skilled professions.

The minister highlighted the importance of earning the NSC through a comprehensive understanding and performance in key subjects and called for a reassessment of the metrics used to measure educational success.

The sentiment echoed by Gwarube resonated with education advocates like Dr Onyinye Nwaneri, Managing Director of Sesame Workshop South Africa.

Nwaneri emphasised that establishing robust educational foundations early on, especially in early childhood development programmes, is essential.

“The South African education system hasn’t prioritised these learning cornerstones, leaving our learning foundations shaky at best,” she noted.

Statistics paint a stark picture of the challenges that lie ahead.

The Department of Basic Education’s Funda Uphumelele National Survey (FUNS) revealed that only 31% of learners in Grades 1 to 3 meet home-language reading benchmarks, and alarmingly, 15% of Grade 3 learners are unable to read even a single word.

Furthermore, projections from the National Reading Barometer suggest that by 2026, two thirds of 10 year olds may struggle to read with comprehension, posing significant implications for learners as they progress through their education.

Nwaneri pointed out that one major barrier to literacy comes from the language used in educational settings.

Despite 91% of parents reporting that they communicate with their children in their home language, many children enter early learning centres dominated by English, resulting in confusion and inadequate learning outcomes.

She stressed the importance of nurturing a child’s native language first.

“Learning in their home language early on will facilitate English acquisition rather than hinder it,” she asserted.

Leading the charge for systemic reform, Mmusi Maimane, leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA), denounced the low pass mark as a “lie” that cloaks more profound issues within the education system.

“A 30% mark is not a pass and should never be used for reporting system performance,” Maimane criticised, describing it as a facade of mediocrity based on minimum achievement standards.

“We need a real reformer leading the Department of Basic Education,” he added.

As the matric results are unveiled and celebrated, the reality of South Africa's education system reflects deep inequalities and systemic failures that remain largely unaddressed.

Education activist Hendrick Makaneta cautioned against an over-reliance on pass rates as indicators of progress and urged for a stronger focus on quality education, especially in early childhood development.

“We need to strengthen the foundational system and ensure that systemic issues are addressed,” said Makaneta, highlighting the generational impact of educational disparities on learners' futures.